WINNING over the Ibrox crowd can often prove a daunting task, but Rabbi Matondo and Tom Lawrence took no notice of tradition during last night’s friendly with West Ham.
Having entered play at the break, both summer arrivals had scored by the hour. Lawrence slotted home Matondo’s cut-back to break the deadlock, played the ball into Ryan Kent’s path for the second and then returned an earlier favour by assisting his fellow new boy to add a third.
Following a largely uneventful opening half, the attacking incision provided by both substitutes significantly altered the hosts’ tempo. Patient, brave build-up play was bookended with their concise decision-making in the final third.
Lat night’s second half was a glimpse of the football Giovanni van Bronckhorst is trying to implement at Ibrox, enabled by a full pre-season and some necessary new additions. An attack tailored to the Dutchman’s style of play was able to take advantage of the opportunities improved build-up play created.
“Last year in some games we didn’t extend our lead enough to be comfortable and were punished at the end of the game,” van Bronckhorst said after the match.
“Rabbi [Matondo] and Tom [Lawrence] are both comfortable in front of goal and they will bring those qualities to the squad.”
The home side looked in control without exuding fluidity before the break, able to build attacks but not execute the final ball. It was complete vindication for the manager, therefore, to see the results once his new signings came on at the interval. Alongside Kent, the pair made the most of space behind West Ham’s midfield, which was created by actions deep in Rangers’ own half.
Often predictable and rigid last season, Rangers’ build-up play beyond the opposition press appeared far more coherent last night. Both full-backs were allowed to push high, the centre-backs split wide and the midfield pairing dropped to assist.
Signs were promising but the lack of end product, a persisting problem earlier this year, had prevented any breakthrough before the break with Glen Kamara and Scott Wright playing the positions Lawrence and Matondo later assumed. Rangers were composed from box to box but looked blunt approaching the penalty box.
At half-time, Matondo was introduced on the right and Lawrence as a No.10 and both took charge immediately. The former timed a run perfectly to cut the ball into Lawrence’s path moments after the restart, and the ex-Derby captain arrived on scene at just the right time to finish.
Soon after, Rangers held possession in their own box, resisting the urge to panic under pressure. Borna Barisic, who enjoyed a fine evening, dinked the ball into James Sands’ path, all the while baiting West Ham to press aggressively. Sands retained composure to exchange a one-two with John Lundstram before firing the ball into midfield. Suddenly, Rangers had opened the whole pitch having broken the visitor’s attempt to regain possession and crucially, were able to exploit this scenario.
Lawrence combined with James Tavernier to set up Kent as Rangers punished their opponents for a second time.
“When you get pressed quickly but show comfort on the ball, once you surpass that press the whole pitch is open,” van Bronckhorst said.
“Instead of playing long, sometimes you have to have the bravery. The goals we scored were all about that, playing from the back, and making sure the opponent was stretched and then you will find the pockets like Tom [Lawrence] did today and with the speed of Ryan [Kent] and Rabbi [Matondo] we can be very dangerous we saw that today.”
👏 A superb team move and a perfect @ryankent finish. pic.twitter.com/1qWJBirtFG
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) July 19, 2022
Before the hour, it was Matondo’s turn. Again, Sands punched the ball through pressure to catalyse an attack. Lawrence, Tavernier and goal scorer Matondo combined quickly and effectively to take advantage of a transition again.
Lawrence doesn’t possess the full technical package the now-departed Joe Aribo can call upon, but fits the van Bronckhorst mould at No.10, able to arrive into the box and provide a goal threat. Matondo immediately demonstrated an upgrade in quality on the right-wing, a position nobody was able to make their own last season. He offered a final touch in two key moments, combined with the demonstrated pace he’s known for.
In drawing conclusions, the match was proof that lessons have not only been learned from last season, but acted upon. The team’s structure in possession looks to have benefitted from substantial time on the training pitch that simply wasn’t afforded after van Bronckhorst’s mid-season arrival. And the new arrivals appear to possess profiles that this squad badly needed. A goal threat at the top of midfield and player capable of answering the need on the right.
Of course, pre-season is pre-season and only a run of competitive fixtures will determine if encouraging signs can bring success. But van Bronckhorst’s plan looks like it is starting to materialise with a squad increasingly capable of carrying it out.
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